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Chelsea have confirmed that Luiz Felipe Scolari will take over as their new manager.
Scolari at Euro 2008
The Brazilian was one of the favourites to succeed Avram Grant at Stamford Bridge but the timing of his appointment has come as a surprise.
Scolari is currently managing Portugal at Euro 2008 and was not expected to make a decision about his future until after the tournament.
In a statement on its website, Chelsea said Scolari will take over on July 1.
"Felipe has great qualities," the statement said.
"He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level, he gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours.
"He was the outstanding choice."
Sky's sports news correspondent Ian Dovaston said of the appointment: "Chelsea will be absolutely delighted they have managed to land a name like Scolari.
"They have got another 'special one', a big character who can handle big players and big occasions.
"He'll want to get on with the job with Portugal but afterwards Chelsea have got a spectacular manager to follow on from Jose Mourinho.
"Avram Grant achieved things, getting them almost to a Premier League title, almost to a Carling Cup and almost the Champions League. But he was an almost man, a nearly man.
"This guy is not. This guy is a man who will be welcomed with open arms in the Premier League to take on the likes of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson."
Chelsea said neither the club nor Scolari will comment until Euro 2008 is over "out of respect" for the Portuguese national team.
Scolari at Euro 2008The Brazilian was one of the favourites to succeed Avram Grant at Stamford Bridge but the timing of his appointment has come as a surprise.
Scolari is currently managing Portugal at Euro 2008 and was not expected to make a decision about his future until after the tournament.
In a statement on its website, Chelsea said Scolari will take over on July 1.
"Felipe has great qualities," the statement said.
"He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level, he gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours.
"He was the outstanding choice."
Sky's sports news correspondent Ian Dovaston said of the appointment: "Chelsea will be absolutely delighted they have managed to land a name like Scolari.
"They have got another 'special one', a big character who can handle big players and big occasions.
"He'll want to get on with the job with Portugal but afterwards Chelsea have got a spectacular manager to follow on from Jose Mourinho.
"Avram Grant achieved things, getting them almost to a Premier League title, almost to a Carling Cup and almost the Champions League. But he was an almost man, a nearly man.
"This guy is not. This guy is a man who will be welcomed with open arms in the Premier League to take on the likes of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson."
Chelsea said neither the club nor Scolari will comment until Euro 2008 is over "out of respect" for the Portuguese national team.
